2004 GS

cjs159 · August 28, 2003, 12:32:12 PM

This has to be one of the most exciting topics to hit this board in awhile! I myself like the full fairing, new concepts for rims a +++ for bigger tires, and a digital display...sweet! Possible $Price??? Comments...
Cheers!

South East Rocket · August 28, 2003, 01:23:42 PM

This looks like a photoshop job to me... What's the deal. Can somebody elaborate on this one?

pantablo · August 28, 2003, 02:25:09 PM

the gstwin.com home page image IS PS, done by John the Admin based on info he got directly from someone who was in the a photo shoot with one here locally (SoCal).

For more info, same guy:
http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4074

rrbarna · August 28, 2003, 04:00:16 PM

I've demoed now well over 30 new bikes this season and insted of me die-ing to want another bike, I'm happier with my GS more than ever! If the GS were to come out with even beter looks (I still prefer unfaired), a digital display and fuel injection, then I can so see myself "upgrading" to another GS!

The only current downsides to the GS are lack of highway power, loooong warm-up times and high-speed handling (140kph+). The top 2 reasons I love my GS are because of its looks (from any angle except front) and its awesome (to me anyway) handling in traffic and tighter twisties.

I'd love a little more power... it would be cool if the put in the 550cc motor to at least match the EX500 in power or surpass it.

Barna

p.s. Why aren't there 600cc+ inline twin bikes? (to my knowledge anyway)

glenn9171 · August 28, 2003, 07:33:25 PM

Yamaha used to have the Seca II that was a 600 parallel twin. Air cooled, too.

Gisser · August 28, 2003, 08:02:21 PM

Well, let's see...in recent memory Kawi had the W650 which died on the showroom floors. Triumph has the Bonneville 800(?) which I don't how well is selling. Both those are retros. Yamaha had the TDM 800(?) which was also sold poorly. Slightly quirky styling and ergos. In long term memory, Suzuki had the GR650--another retro which had to be steeply discounted before the dealers could move them out. I think Laverda had or has a 750-to-800cc sportbike which failed to create much of a stir. At the present time, parallel twins do not fit into any of the popular motorcycle niches. Certainly, a GS550-to-600 would liven up the entry level niche.

Seca II was an I-4. Pretty bike. Pretty slow, too.

glenn9171 · August 28, 2003, 08:22:43 PM

I stand corrected. I have a friend that had a Seca II when I first got my GS last year then he sold it and got an R6. I could have sworn that it was a twin.

I did some research and it's 4 cylinders only made about 48-49HP and 32lbs. torque. Weighed in at about 450Lbs. Power to weight ratio-wise, it's about equal with the GS.

The Buddha · August 29, 2003, 07:45:15 AM

Quote from: GisserWell, let's see...in recent memory Kawi had the W650 which died on the showroom floors. Triumph has the Bonneville 800(?) which I don't how well is selling. Both those are retros. Yamaha had the TDM 800(?) which was also sold poorly. Slightly quirky styling and ergos. In long term memory, Suzuki had the GR650--another retro which had to be steeply discounted before the dealers could move them out. I think Laverda had or has a 750-to-800cc sportbike which failed to create much of a stir. At the present time, parallel twins do not fit into any of the popular motorcycle niches. Certainly, a GS550-to-600 would liven up the entry level niche.

Seca II was an I-4. Pretty bike. Pretty slow, too.

The GR650 was not retro...it was styled current in the year it was made (82 or so).
The Laverda is one cool bike, the 668 was a beaut, and the 750 is fine but has that ugly radiator, but in effect they are a late and in consistent entry into the US market.
Parallel twins make a lot of sense...the simplicity and small size of a twin but not 2 of everything (valve cover, cam chain tensioner, cam shafts) and no carbs that are in accessible stuffed into the engines crotch etc etc...But thanks to ducati screaming about perfect Primary balance and winning world many many championships with a lighter bigger motor ... well you pretty much have parallel twins that have seemingly become poor designs. I have a few Vtwins...They all have some serious issues...My virago is just about the best for accessibility...carbs are almost external, the motor hangs from the frame...no down tubes. But the airbox is the frame and theye is no way to put a set of clamp on filters on it. My vulcan...well its impossible to get to its carbs wihtout taking the motor out.
Cool.
Srinath.

JamesG · August 29, 2003, 10:24:39 AM

Because its more efficent & compact to make them in a V configuration. Besides being more narrow, a 90 degree twin has a natural balance while a parallel twin requires a balancer.
As 600 cc became the class limit (any one know why that got picked?). You get much more power from 4 cylinders that 2, so it was natural that the factories picked that config over a set of 300cc slugs.

However, parallel twins are much cheaper to build than I4s or even Vtwins. Only 2 sets of pistons, 2 cams and valve train, make this engine very attractive for building a budget bike where performance isn't a big priority. It also helps that all the current parallel twins are based on older engines (when they were state-o-the-art) so that all the toolings have been long paid for.

It would be nice to see Suzuki get one last upgrade out of the old GS.

Gisser · August 29, 2003, 01:25:10 PM

QuoteThe GR650 was not retro...it was styled current in the year it was made (82 or so).

Ahhhh...that's debatable. Like the Kawi W650, the GR650 styling was meant to evoke defunct Triumph twins, but blended with contemporary design, such as the integrated tank & side panels. Much like the early Honda Shadows were attempting to be a modern interpretation of the cruiser. Even the "Tempter's" motor was updated retro with its long stroke, heavy low rpm flywheel effect, and low compression. Wish I had one.

Gisser · August 29, 2003, 01:38:00 PM

QuoteAs 600 cc became the class limit (any one know why that got picked?).

I believe the class was originally the 400-to-500cc class, which allowed almost unlimited modifications like a superbike class. Naturally, racers ran overbored engines, and the manufactures followed suit by building 550's. Seca 550; GPz 550; GS550; CB550. In '83, suzuki fudged its numbers by building a 572cc 550. Finally, Yamaha maxed out the class limit with the FJ600. IMHO, these liberal rules governing lightweight racing doomed the 750cc class.

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2004 GS